[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/classic-cars\/the-lotus-esprit\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/classic-cars\/the-lotus-esprit\/","headline":"The Lotus Esprit","name":"The Lotus Esprit","description":"Can you believe that the first Lotus Esprit was unveiled 40 years ago this year! Let\u2019s take a look at the evolution of the much loved Esprit. The first Esprit models were known as the S1 or Series 1 Esprits, these had a steel chassis, fibreglass body and were powered by the Lotus 907 engine which produced a respectable 160bhp. Any avid Bond fan will recognise the Esprit S1 from The Spy Who Loved Me where the car was transformed […]","datePublished":"2016-08-18","dateModified":"2016-08-18","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/#Person","name":"Isabelle Lawrence","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/","identifier":30,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/feature-31.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/feature-31.jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/classic-cars\/the-lotus-esprit\/","about":["CLASSIC CARS"],"wordCount":328,"keywords":["HistoryofLotus","lotus","Lotus Espirit"],"articleBody":"Can you believe that the first Lotus Esprit was unveiled 40 years ago this year! Let\u2019s take a look at the evolution of the much loved Esprit.The first Esprit models were known as the S1 or Series 1 Esprits, these had a steel chassis, fibreglass body and were powered by the Lotus 907 engine which produced a respectable 160bhp. Any avid Bond fan will recognise the Esprit S1 from The Spy Who Loved Me where the car was transformed and given a submarine mode which is used for an epic undersea battle.Did you know that the original car featured in the film sold at auction for \u00a3650,000 in 2013!The second Lotus Esprit was brought to the market in 1978, two years after the original model. Differences between the S1 and S2 were subtle but included cooling ducts behind the rear window, integrated front spoiler and specially designed Speedline alloy wheels.Fast forward to 1980 and you will meet the first factory turbocharged Esprit. In Essex Petroleum livery, the Essex Esprit as it was named, could reach 150mph and had 210bhp!Lotus introduced the Esprit S3 and Turbo Esprit in 1981, both of the new models inherited much of the same configuration as the Essex Esprit. The interior was revised for both models and this included new trim, more headroom and an enlarged footwell.In 1993, Julian Thomson was let loose on the exterior design of the Esprit, he made the shape rounder, gave it a smaller rear spoiler and much more. The standard S4 came packed with 264bhp, while the S4s which was released a year later, was upped to 300bhp!1996 brought with it the Lotus Esprit V8 which used Lotus\u2019 very own all-aluminium twin turbocharged V8 engine. The first V8 could reach 175mph and hit 0-60mph in 4.4 seconds.Production of the Lotus Esprit ended in February 2004 after being in production for 28 years! Can you believe that a total of 10,675 were made? We hope that one day there will be more\u2026"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Latest News","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Classic Cars","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/\/classic-cars\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"The Lotus Esprit","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/classic-cars\/the-lotus-esprit\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]